A Longer Table

It happens to all of us one way or another... When a global pandemic upends our security. When a partner leaves. When we get a terrible diagnosis, or face the death of a loved one. When long-held beliefs about God or faith slipped through our hands.  Whether the details are global or personal, we have all experienced our world falling apart. Manda brings her friend, pastor, and newly published aut...

Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko is an autistic and disabled author, poet, and educator. She shares about how her autism and disabilities affect her daily life, and how the world - specifically the church - can improve to become more accessible. Tune in to widen your perspective and lean into empathy! Learn more from Jennifer by following her on instagram here . A Longer Table Podcast is hosted by Manda Carpent...

Blaine Hogan is a film director and actor who believes you can redeem your story and redefine your creativity. In this episode, he gets real with Manda about his past addiction and how his whole life changed when he started living honestly and seeking healing. They also chat about: -His fascinating career as a film director and the celebrities he's worked with recently -His new book "exit...

Trigger Warning: If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, this episode may be difficult as the guest was brought on specifically to share her story. Manda does not align with or endorse the beliefs of the guest, but feels it is important to navigate hard conversations with grace and curiosity. Part of building a LONGER table is having people sit around it who do not share the same perspective as y...

Jennifer Dukes Lee is a journalist turned author who lives on a farm in Iowa and is an expert at asking questions. She's at the table today to share how asking good questions changed her life and give us some insight about how intentional (and fun!) question-asking can help us become more self-aware and improve our relationships. Buy Jennifer's new guided journal, "Stuff I'd Only...

Angela Tucker is a Black woman adopted from foster care to a white family. In this episode, she gets honest with Manda about all things foster care and adoption and ultimately helps us answer an important question: Should we feel guilty for not adopting? Angela is the founder of The Adopted Life, a consulting company where she offers workshops and mentorship with a mission to help center adoptee s...

Adopted from Korea by a white American family, Brandi Ebersole grew up in a community that didn't look like her. In this conversation, she reflects on her childhood as a transracial adoptee and shares about the journey she's had with her own children who have joined her family through foster care, adoption, and biologically. Give this episode a listen to hear Manda ask her about: her thoug...

At 32 years old, Christine Boye got diagnosed with breast cancer and a few days later found out she was pregnant. In this episode, she shares about the realities and hardships of living with cancer while also growing a baby (and caring for her 2 other young children!) Tune in to hear Manda ask her specifically about: the moment she received her diagnosis the impact pregnancy had on her cancer trea...

What if I told you that you could regain 15 days of time each year by putting away your phone for just 1 hour each day? Founders of Aro , Heath and Joey, sit at our table to share about an amazing product they've designed specifically for families looking to reduce screen time and increase quality time together. This conversation reveals the backstory to how Aro came into existence, answers th...

Jenai is a writer, artist, Filipina woman who holds stories and makes space for others. She addresses the cultures of marginalization and how we can better set the table for people on the margins. I asked her to join our table to discuss how we set the table for others, but our conversation really dove deep into why we separate ourselves from, or even tear down, people who are different from us. T...

At 19 years old, Marlon Peterson participated in a robbery that resulted in two murders. During his 10 years in prison, he decade incarcerated and co-created How Our Lives Link Altogether, a youth development organization that has provided programming, college trips, and mentorship for NYC public school students and justice-involved youth. Marlon has written, created programming, lectured, organiz...

Hanna  joins us at the table to discuss about confident and pain-free sex - especially if we've grown up in purity culture and feel shame about our body. Tune in to hear: Common reasons sex can be painful What we should do if sex is consistently painful  How to communicate with a partner about painful sex ...and more! A Longer Table Podcast is hosted by Manda Carpenter . For more, visit www.ma...

Mary Van Geffen is an international parenting coach for moms of Spicy Ones™️ who joins us again (listen to her first episode with us no. 115 ) to continue the conversation of how we can have a healthy relationship with our children... specifically how we can pivot our parenting style if we realize that our current parenting tactics aren't working or are potentially causing harm. Tune in to hea...

Arielle ​Estoria is a Poet, Author and Actor. With a specific heart in empowering, encouraging and making space for audiences of women to feel at home in their own bodies, Arielle has shared her work through custom spoken word pieces, workshops and themed keynote talks with companies such as Google, Lululemon, Tedx, the SKIMS campaign by Kim Kardashian and more. Her newest book, "The Unfoldin...

Stephanie Duncan Smith is an executive editor at Baker Books, where she takes great joy in coaching and championing authors to bring the best out of their message. She’s worked in publishing for over 13 years, developing bestselling and award-winning writers, and personally pens SLANT LETTER , an email newsletter for writers looking to deepen their craft and tend to the soul of their work. If you&...

Jen Tipton is a mom of 3 who found a passion for special needs inclusion after her son was diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality and non-speaking autism. In this episode, she shares candidly about what it's like to parent neuro-divergent children, what she wishes parents of neuro-typical children knew, and how we can all improve inclusivity for humans with special needs. This quick episode...

Gabrielle Blair is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning parenting blogger, and a thought leader who has written and moderated hundreds of discussions on difficult topics. Over 6000 blog posts and two books later, Gabrielle is considered a top expert in creating accessible conversations, parenting engaged and independent kids, and creating a home where both parents and kids can thrive...

If writing a book is on your bucket list or you feel like you have a story inside of you that needs to be shared, this episode is for you! Manda sits down with 4 authors who completed her 'Stories Matter' program to get a behind-the-scenes look at: What it was like to publish a book with Manda in just 12 weeks! What they found surprising about the writing and publishing experience Why they...

K.J Ramsey is a Somatic & Trauma-Informed Therapist and Poet who lives everyday with an autoimmune disease. Her work offers space to see every part of our souls and stories as sacred. In this episode, you'll get an inside look at: K.J's painful experience within the Church and how she's maintained communion with God The connection between trauma and our physical wellbeing How coura...

Patricia Taylor is an anti-racism educator, podcaster, and writer who believes in having critical conversations around racial justice with clarity and candor.  She writes on instagram under #somethoughtsfromyourblackfriend and joins Manda on the podcast today to encourage us to learn how to listen so that we can genuinely love better. Press play to hear more about:  What inspired Patty t...

Manda sits down at the table solo today to share about 5 of her (current) favorite things: A skincare product A sleep favorite A current snack obsession A new daily rhythm Something to balance her family You can find products she mentions here: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/shop-my-favs And discount codes here: https://www.mandacarpenter.com/promo-codes-for-you A Longer Table Podcast is hosted by...

Steve Carter is a pastor, author, and the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. A gifted teacher, Steve spends his days crafting sermons, messages, blog posts, and books to encourage people in their walk with Christ. He describes his work as humbling and vulnerable—a soul-baring process that keeps him dependent, expectant, and grounded in Christ. Manda sat down w...

Dr. Celeste Holbrook is a sexologist, speaker and author who has dedicated her life to being a sex educator. She believes that great sex fuels a great relationship. Her mission is to help people achieve extraordinary intimacy in their lives through planned mental and behavioral changes. Manda invited her to the table to answer the following questions and more: I feel like I need "perfect...

Marie Beecham is an advocate for social justice and unity. I invited Marie to the table to hear how she would answer the questions:  What do People of Color wish their White friends knew? What can we say or do instead of responding with “I understand”? What’s the balance of being a White ally and advocate who listens and doesn’t speak on behalf of People of Color, but speaks up appropriately...

Mary Van Geffen is an international parenting coach for moms of Spicy Ones™️ who joins A Longer Table to share how we can have a healthy relationship with our children. Mary specifically answers Manda's questions about: How to get your child to cooperate more? If we're spending enough time with our children?  What are age-appropriate consequences?  She is a true gift and a wonderful foll...